When it rains, it pours!

This afternoon we had a rain storm that took us right back to Kauai.  One moment it was overcast with a few sprinkles, then it started raining a bit harder.  Then harder.  Then HARDER.

Big rain with big splashes.

Big rain with big rainbows~ a double for a short time. 

The photo isn't grainy or smudged~ it's the rain!  It was beautiful.  The storm moved so quickly that the sun came out, creating the rainbow.  The sun rays hit the raindrops in such a unique way, it looked like bits of glass were falling from the sky.  I've never witnessed anything like it.  On one side of the sky was the above picture, on the other, the picture below.

I love the rain- it's one of the things I miss most about Kauai.  This little storm took me right back to our little place in Lawai.  Hopefully we'll make it back there soon to visit our friends and favorite places.

Go Sharks!

We just returned from a tourist weekend in San Jose.  Who knew there was so much to do in San Jose?  We took in a Saturday Sharks game then went to a fresh fish dinner at a fantastic restaurant. 

The next morning we were scheduled to go to an observatory, but due to the rain we changed our plans at the last minute.  We toured the Egyptian Museum  instead, and it was well worth it!  I could have spent all afternoon reading about the course of Egyptian history.  We hit up a Whole Foods store on the way home~ I so wish we had one here.  I love Trader Joe's, but WF has so much more.  I told Travis that we're going to be making monthly trips to our nearest WF from here on out ;)

Happy Presidents' Day!

When I met Travis, he was working in the food service industry to pay his way through college.  When I decided I needed a job, he pointed me in the same direction (the most lucrative job a college kid can have in a vacation town!) Because of the years of service we've given to Valentine's couples, we opt out of celebrating our love on February 14th.  It loses a bit of it's luster after serving couple after couple after couple all wanting to take their time and be romantic while the manager is pushing people around trying to get tables to turn over fasterfasterfaster so more money can be made by all.  Yeah.  One of the most UN-romantic days of the year for us.  

I did feel a bit left out, though.  Everyone else was celebrating their love while we were exhausted and bitter.  After much consideration, we decided we would celebrate Presidents' Day instead of Valentine's Day.  Why you ask?  That's the closest we can get to narrowing down the timeline of when we met.  We think it was the week after Presidents' Day 1999.  And it was a Wednesday (my floor in the dorms had 9-0 night; a night where all the guys got together to watch all the girls watch 90210.) We were one of those gross couples that met and instantly became an item.  We were just drawn to each other and immediately became TravisandMargo instead of Travis and Margo.  

Tomorrow will mark 10 years that Travis and I have known each other.  It also marks 6 years ago that we became engaged to be married.  We will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary in June, but it sounds so short after saying 10 years.  When people ask us how long we've been married, we both respond, "5 years, but we've been together for 10."  Yes, we're proud!  So Happy Anniversary, Travis!  I picked the tulips pictured here for you because the first flowers/present you ever gave to me were four hand-carved, painted red tulips from Belgium- I remember you telling me "These will never die and no one killed them for their beauty."  They have been present in every house we've lived in and I hope to still have them displayed 50 years from now.

P.S.  If anyone knows where Kenny or Gus are from UCSC, College 8, DL, second floor, orner room, 1998-1999, please tell them thank you for hosting 9-0 night ;0)

Thunderstorm!!!

We're experiencing our first REAL thunderstorm since moving into our current house, 4 years ago.  By real, I mean lightning that flashes so bright your eyes need a second to adjust after witnessing it, followed by thunder so loud it rattles you to the core and a sonic boom so strong the windows in our 65 year old house rattle as if they're going to jump out of their ol' panes.   Our poor pups are a bit scared.  Here's Belle, keeping watch and guarding Travis from harm.

I love storms!

A few weekends ago Travis and I went to Santa Cruz for a close friend's 30th surprise party.  While we were there, we went on a hike in Wilder State Park on Highway 1 (one of our favorites!)  The ocean views are breathtaking, but hard to capture with the midday light.  Instead of posting mediocre pics of the ocean, I'll post this picture Travis took of a a long dead tree.  Beauty can be found all around us, all it takes is us stop for a moment and look for it.  

Playtime

I've tried many times to capture on film Dotti and Belle playing, but am seldom successful.  By the time I have my camera ready, they're aware of me and the moment is over.  Here is a short example; my favorite part is in the middle, where it looks like they hold paws to prove to me that they're just playing.  They're so sweet!

Snow in SLO

Monday morning as I was driving home from San Luis Obispo, the strangest thing happened...it SNOWED!  Crazy!  It was so odd I pulled over and took some pictures on my phone.  Now, I just have to figure out how to download my phone pics to my computer...

While in SLO, I had a great visit with Brooke, Beau, and Never the Cat.  Well, Never wasn't so great, he has a bit of an illness, but he did his best to join us while we were in the house.  

I'm off this week, so I've been knitting, reading, and shopping.  It's so comforting not to have a timeline to conform to at all parts of the day.  I keep trying to sleep in, but it hasn't worked out yet, so I'll keep working on that one  :)

Dotti-girl

Our cat, Dotti, is strange.  I love her, and she loves me, but she's strange.  She likes to sleep on top of the dogs.  Doesn't matter which dog, she's not picky, just as long as she gets to sleep on one of them.  It's a bit amazing that they let her.